The reason why wine is so interesting is the personal touch you can see in certain wineries. From the use of different grapes to the disparity of aging the wine these all leave a fingerprint on the wine you will eventually drink and why there is such brand loyalty when it comes to certain wineries. Orin Swift was created by master wine maker Dave Phinney, who is most famous or in his eyes infamous for The Prisoner Red Blend that he grew from obscurity in 2000. 

Orin Swift Winery is a very unique brand when it comes to the wine that Dave Phinney choses to blend and use. When Dave Phinney started blending red wine with the majority grape being Zinfandel he was seen as an odd duck. Zinfandel is a grape that is very at home in California and in my opinion the best expression of the grape. However, in the 80s and 90s zinfandel was a lesser grape used in mass production or for high sugar wine in its rose form. So many of the big wine houses stuck to the big boldness of the Cabernet grapes with additions of Merlot to mellow them out a bit. This industry was ripe (pun intended) for a change. By mixing Zinfandel Cabernet and Sirah Mr. Phinney was able to give a red blend that was completely different and more complex than the blow your mouth out Cabs. Thus started the first viral wine in Napa Valley. 

Prisoner became so popular that Phinney sold the name to a large wine group for $40 million. While Prisoner is now world famous and very abundant in the marketplace it is clear that the wine has lost quality but increased in price. Meanwhile Orin Swift is again growing by changing the game. With projects such as 8 years in the Desert, Abstract, and Papillion Mr. Phinney is again growing in quality and unique brands. 

As for myself I really enjoy the several wines that I have found in Walmart or other retailers. 

8 years in the Desert was picked up in Napa for me to try and it is a very interesting wine.  The wine is almost black and it has a high alcohol content which makes the wine very high in viscosity, like a thick syrup. I smell blackberries and coffee but the taste is like a jam which I cant make out. Maybe it’s a strawberry jam with blackberries or blueberries but it is pleasant to taste and makes the Zinfandel stand out. 

Abstract is lighter in color more purple and in my nose and mouth more alive and fresh which makes sense with the Grenache grape in this wine. Again, high alcohol content but it adds to the bright and uplifting notes of plum. You also get the pepper smell and taste from the Sirah in this wine which makes it very complex and perfect for appetizers. 

Papillion is probably the most “normal” wine that Orin Swift has under its label. Here is more of a traditional Bordeaux Blend with Cab, Cab Franc, Malbec, and Merlot. The body is ruby in color and the nose is picking up chocolate and blueberries. On the tongue I can taste blackberries and anise with a touch of mint. It’s the highest in tannins so it really dries your mouth out but the acidity is there to really help cut through. As the heaviest of the three wines it definitely a closer and should be served with nice fatty meats.   

Another wine that I am interested in trying is Slander as a Pinot Noir and I will update this blog if I ever have it. 

In closing these wines are higher priced but the quality is better than the equally priced Prisoner or Caymus wines. You can tell that Mr. Phinney cares deeply about his wine and works hard to leave his fingerprint on each bottle.